Sri Lanka: Poverty & Food Insecurity Surge Pre-Cyclone 📈

A new IFPRI-IWMI report reveals critical socio-economic vulnerabilities in Sri Lanka just prior to the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. • Overall Poverty & Debt: • Multidimensional poverty reached 27%, significantly higher than the monetary poverty rate of 18%. • 42% of households nationwide are burdened by debt. • Post-crisis, urban monetary poverty tripled, while urban food insecurity increased fivefold since 2019. • Sector Breakdowns: • Estate Sector: Faces the most severe deprivation, with 67% in multidimensional poverty and 55% experiencing food insecurity. • Urban & Rural: Food insecurity stands at 35% and 31% respectively, reflecting a national average of 33%. • Essential Services & Infrastructure: • Water Security: 10% of households are insecure, with the Uva Province recording the highest distress at 24%. • Agriculture: The sector struggles with low technology adoption and limited climate-smart practices, hindering productivity and profitability. • Social Protection: • The Aswesuma program shows improved reach, covering 29% of the total population and 48% of the poorest households, compared to 19% under the previous Samurdhi scheme. • Impact of Cyclone Ditwah: Based on provisional data, the cyclone affected 2 million people (10% of the population) and claimed over 600 lives, striking a population already weakened by limited nutritional knowledge and high indebtedness.